Best Crista Cowan | The Barefoot Genealogist Podcasts (2024)

1
Moments of Really Beautiful Things (IAJGS LIVE) | Episode 26 32:22

5d ago32:22

32:22

What do Lake Como, Italy, a Jewish genealogy conference, and a surprise discovery in Chicago all have in common? They are all elements of a story I shared in front of a live audience in Philadelphia just a few weeks ago. Listen in as I recount the story of one of the most impactful experiences in my career in family history. Discover how the events…

1
A Whole Other Tree of Possibilities (with Todd Godfrey) | Episode 25 42:00

13d ago42:00

42:00

Imagine tackling a 5000-piece jigsaw puzzle without ever seeing the picture it’s supposed to form. Sometimes, you might spend hours focused on fitting just one section together, while at other times, you might simply add a piece or two as you pass by. This metaphor beautifully mirrors the process of uncovering family stories — a journey of patience…

1
HBO Gift Lounge | Episode 24 22:59

21d ago22:59

22:59

It’s Emmys Weekend in Los Angeles. What does that have to do with family stories? Well, back in 2018, Ancestry hosted a luxury gift lounge during a Hollywood award show weekend. Unlike typical gift lounges where celebrities grab swag, snap photos, and move on, we offered them a different experience. A chance to connect with their past. We transform…

1
You Lose Them Twice (with Julie Taggart) | Episode 23 29:59

28d ago29:59

29:59

We call ourselves Gen X women but many of us are quickly becoming the “sandwich generation.” It’s a term that invokes feelings of being squeezed between raising children, welcoming grandchildren, and caring for aging parents all while juggling never ending demands on our time and emotions. With six children ranging in age from 11 to 21 and a mother…

1
From People Who've Done Hard Things (with Jordan Lundskog) | Episode 22 35:25

1M ago35:25

35:25

Telling your children that they can do hard things is one thing, but sharing stories of their ancestors—who faced great challenges—transforms that simple statement into a profound insight. When children learn that the same blood flows in their veins, the message evolves from a clichéd saying to a powerful assertion that inspires resilience. As the …

1
Turn It Into the Wind (with Erik and Emily Orton) | Episode 21 36:36

1M ago36:36

36:36

Ever wondered what it takes to turn an ordinary life into an extraordinary adventure? This episode features Erik and Emily Orton, a couple who have redefined family living through the power of intentional storytelling and daring choices. Inspired by Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, they left their stable life in New York City to spend a year saili…

1
Open Heart, Open Mind, Open Ears (with Maria Mendoza) | Episode 20 26:14

2M ago26:14

26:14

Many people take an AncestryDNA test just to get the ethnicity estimate, curious about where in the world their DNA is from. However, they often overlook that their results include a match list - thousands of people in the Ancestry network with whom they share DNA, indicating a family relationship. Sometimes a really close one. For adoptees like Ma…

1
Laugh 'Til We Cry (with Scott Seiffert and Lisa Dyson) | Episode 19 36:39

2M ago36:39

36:39

How does a country boy from Montana meet a city girl from Pennsylvania and create a life filled with laughter and deep connection? Meet storytelling powerhouses Scott Seiffert, Vice President at DreamWorks Animation, and his wife, Lisa Dyson, a dedicated middle school librarian and actress. Together, they reveal the profound ways in which stories—f…

1
Families Have Always Been Messy | Episode 18 29:06

2M ago29:06

29:06

When you are raised in a household of faith and then make choices that take you away from the path your parents envisioned for you since before your birth, it can cause them a lot of pain. Some parents work through their own pain and allow their love for you and the grace of their God to override their own disappointment and fears. Other parents re…

1
Police Don't Have Nothin' On Me (with Rusty Wright and Lisa Elzey) | Episode 17 37:40

2M ago37:40

37:40

What if the secrets to your family's past were hidden in plain sight, just waiting to be discovered? Rusty Wright’s quest began with a simple desire to know more about a grandfather he never met. What starts as a straightforward inquiry unfolds into an epic cross-country saga. Along the way, he discovers a draft card filled out in a surprising loca…

1
Fearless Women (with Cathy Hughes) | Episode 16 27:59

3M ago27:59

27:59

When children are raised knowing the stories of the strong, fearless women in their family tree they are more likely to feel empowered to chase their own dreams. Raised with tales of the trailblazing women in her family, Ms. Cathy Hughes, a pioneering entrepreneur and the first African American woman to head a publicly traded corporation, drew stre…

1
Familial Sudoku (with Josh Harman) | Episode 15 24:25

3M ago24:25

24:25

Do you revel in solving a good brain teaser or completing a crossword puzzle? Climbing your family tree can feel a little like piecing together a tricky jigsaw. It is certainly about more than just collecting names on a pedigree chart like a simple dot to dot. Early in his career, Josh Harman was a young, slightly overconfident, product manager at …

1
What Is Your American Story? (with Mary Tedesco) | Episode 14 30:30

3M ago30:30

30:30

How did a simple search on Ancestry.com spark a lifelong passion, a stronger mother-daughter bond, and a stint as a host on a popular genealogy television show? Tune in to find out. As we celebrate Independence Day, join me as I chat with Mary Tedesco, the dynamic co-host of PBS's Genealogy Roadshow. Discover how her initial curiosity about her Ita…

1
Their Stories in Their Words | Episode 13 36:06

3M ago36:06

36:06

Imagine uncovering a letter from the 1800s that brings your ancestors’ harrowing Civil War experiences to life, in their own words. Finding a story written about someone in our family tree is a treasure. Finding a firsthand historical account—especially from a woman—is priceless. Martha Mills Brown and my great-granny Kerr were second cousins. In t…

1
We're Doing This Together (with Steve Cowan) | Episode 12 41:58

3M ago41:58

41:58

Have you ever wondered how family stories shape who we are today? I would like to introduce you to my dad. The storyteller who shaped my own journey into storytelling. Growing up immersed in his tales, it was inevitable that I would follow in his narrative footsteps. Now, as he enjoys his retirement years diving back into family history, our bond h…

1
Continue to Say His Name (with Kelley Dixon-Tealer and Alva Marie Jenkins) | Episode 11 35:46

4M ago35:46

35:46

Hawkins Wilson, a Texas freedman, was sold away from Virginia as a young boy. Time and distance did not dim his memories of childhood family and friends nor his emotional connection to them. Twenty-four years later, he wrote to his "dearest relatives" through the Freedman's Bureau, introducing himself to them, not as the boy they had known but as t…

1
We'll Always Keep Searching (with Emily Paulson) | Episode 10 40:57

4M ago40:57

40:57

We commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day sharing the deeply moving story of Second Lieutenant William Joseph McGowan. The life of this young pilot ended on D-Day. In 2019, his remains were located in a field in France by a team from Nova Scotia and then delivered to a lab in Omaha where he was finally identified after 75 years, missing in actio…

1
One Person's Trash | Episode 9 17:57

4M ago17:57

17:57

When an unexpected email unearthed irreplaceable family heirlooms, it reminded me that people—including our own relatives—are often not quite what they seem. My grandpa’s youngest sister, Aunt Madeleine, was always a bit of an enigma within our family—emotionally distant and reserved. More than once she said things that left us all a little stunned…

1
L'dor V'dor - From Generation to Generation (with Howard Hochhauser) | Episode 8 23:36

4M ago23:36

23:36

Serena never spoke of her life before she married into the Hochhauser family. They knew she was from Eastern Europe and based on her age and the timing of her immigration, they knew she had suffered through the events of the Holocaust and survived. But, how she did so was a story that was never told. Nearly two decades after Serena’s death a set of…

1
And Then I Heard A Meadowlark Sing (with Sunny Morton) | Episode 7 26:49

5M ago26:49

26:49

Genealogist Sunny Morton didn’t even know someone was missing from her family tree until a single mention in an obituary led her to a Nun. Sister Mary Bertilla. This single name sparked a long search that culminated in the discovery of a remarkable, yet nearly forgotten, woman who dedicated herself to faith and service. Her story, encapsulated in a…

1
This Gathering Place (with Shelly Cowan) | Episode 6 30:06

5M ago30:06

30:06

Imagine sitting down at a family dinner where every bite is seasoned with laughter, love, and connection. You're invited to a conversation with my sister-in-law, Shelly Cowan, about an overly large family table and the powerful traditions it supports. The mother of five boys, Shelly didn't just build a table with her dad, she crafted a space of pro…

1
The Story That Lives In Me | Episode 1 34:44

5M ago34:44

34:44

From a childhood rooted in family stories to a long-standing family mystery that required solving, follow me on my journey into family history. Be reminded of the painstaking efforts once required to climb a family tree —from county by county searches in Ohio courthouses to scrolling through microfilms in Salt Lake City's vast library. And rejoice …

1
Grandma's Love for the Theater (with Lisa Elzey and Will Swenson) | Episode 2 36:29

5M ago36:29

36:29

Ruth Hale, an icon in Utah's theater world, always knew she was adopted. But, it wasn't until her grandson, actor Will Swenson, decided to take a DNA test at the urging of my producer, Lisa Elzey, that the mystery of her parentage had a hope of being solved. And, you won't believe what we uncovered! Listen in as Lisa and I share the story of sealed…

1
Bliss It Was In That Dawn To Be Alive (with Eric Allen) | Episode 3 37:22

5M ago37:22

37:22

Have you ever wondered about the faces in those old family photos tucked away in grandma's attic? Join me as Eric Allen (Vice President of Marketing at Ancestry) and I explore the power of pictures in helping us to discover, preserve, and share our family stories. Whether it's a box of grandpa's slides from the 1940s or mom's photo album from the 1…

1
The Whole Tree (with Sunny Mahe) | Episode 4 23:54

5M ago23:54

23:54

Cultural nuances, defining moments, and raw honesty. My conversation with my dear friend, Sunny Mahe has all of these things. We also dive deep into the power of faith and family. From her Tongan heritage to her ten children, I am so inspired by the way that resilience and friendship flourish within the walls of her home. The stories that live ther…

1
Out of Obscurity (with Kevin Giddins and Camlyn Giddins) | Episode 5 25:21

5M ago25:21

25:21

Raised in the New York foster care system, Kevin Giddins knew his biological mother's name but not much else. But, an AncestryDNA test led him to her doorstep and an extraordinary reunion. His daughter Camlyn, caught the whole thing on film. The three of us have a meaningful conversation about the essence of these family relationships and the roles…

1
Stories That Live In Us | Trailer 1:25

5M ago1:25

1:25

I created this podcast to inspire you to form deeper connections with your family - past, present, and future. All families are messy and life is constantly changing but we don’t have to allow that to disconnect us. I’ve spent my whole life discovering the power of family history and I know that sharing the stories that live in you can change every…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Crista Cowan | The Barefoot Genealogist Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Stories That Live In Us

Crista Cowan | The Barefoot Genealogist

1
Moments of Really Beautiful Things (IAJGS LIVE) | Episode 26 32:22

1
A Whole Other Tree of Possibilities (with Todd Godfrey) | Episode 25 42:00

1
HBO Gift Lounge | Episode 24 22:59

1
You Lose Them Twice (with Julie Taggart) | Episode 23 29:59

1
From People Who've Done Hard Things (with Jordan Lundskog) | Episode 22 35:25

1
Turn It Into the Wind (with Erik and Emily Orton) | Episode 21 36:36

1
Open Heart, Open Mind, Open Ears (with Maria Mendoza) | Episode 20 26:14

1
Laugh 'Til We Cry (with Scott Seiffert and Lisa Dyson) | Episode 19 36:39

1
Families Have Always Been Messy | Episode 18 29:06

1
Police Don't Have Nothin' On Me (with Rusty Wright and Lisa Elzey) | Episode 17 37:40

1
Fearless Women (with Cathy Hughes) | Episode 16 27:59

1
Familial Sudoku (with Josh Harman) | Episode 15 24:25

1
What Is Your American Story? (with Mary Tedesco) | Episode 14 30:30

1
Their Stories in Their Words | Episode 13 36:06

1
We're Doing This Together (with Steve Cowan) | Episode 12 41:58

1
Continue to Say His Name (with Kelley Dixon-Tealer and Alva Marie Jenkins) | Episode 11 35:46

1
We'll Always Keep Searching (with Emily Paulson) | Episode 10 40:57

1
One Person's Trash | Episode 9 17:57

1
L'dor V'dor - From Generation to Generation (with Howard Hochhauser) | Episode 8 23:36

1
And Then I Heard A Meadowlark Sing (with Sunny Morton) | Episode 7 26:49

1
This Gathering Place (with Shelly Cowan) | Episode 6 30:06

1
The Story That Lives In Me | Episode 1 34:44

1
Grandma's Love for the Theater (with Lisa Elzey and Will Swenson) | Episode 2 36:29

1
Bliss It Was In That Dawn To Be Alive (with Eric Allen) | Episode 3 37:22

1
The Whole Tree (with Sunny Mahe) | Episode 4 23:54

1
Out of Obscurity (with Kevin Giddins and Camlyn Giddins) | Episode 5 25:21

1
Stories That Live In Us | Trailer 1:25

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